Box or can



N0. 6l8,783. Patented Ian. 3|, I899.

A. CAMERON, In. BOX 0R CAN.

(Application flied Aug. 11, 1898.)

(in Model.)

INVENTOR ilNrrEsD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER CAMERON, JR., OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

BOX OR CAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 618,783, dated January 31, 1899. Application filed August 11, 1898- Serial No. 688,370. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER CAMERON, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of I-Ienrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boxes or Cans; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to cans or boxes, preferably made of 1netal-as, for instance, tin, steel, or the likefor shipping goods-such as tobacco, paint, condensed milk, &c.- which it is desired to keep hermetically sealed during transportation and which will be oapable of being readily opened without the use of an auxiliary can-opener.

To this end my invention consists of a box or can the body of which is provided with a thin permanent cover, sometimes termed a tagger top, and on its outer surface, below its upper edge, with studs or projections, and a removable outer cover formed with a vertical flange and provided on its under side with a cutter and on the flange of the cover with novel means for holding the cutter during transportation out of engagement with the tagger top and which is so constructed that when desired the cutter can be brought into contact with the tagger top a'ndthe cover revolved to cut out the tagger top.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cover made in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view inverted, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of a can made in accordance with my invention.

In my Letters Patent No. 602,653, dated April 19, 1898, I showed a box or can the projections or studs on the body of which appear very close to the upper edge of the same, and the vertical slots in the cover are very deep and formed with lateral extensions or shoulders, and the peripheral groove is very near the upper edge of the cover.

I have found from actual practice that it is desirable that the studs or projections on the body of the can should be located far= ther away from the upper edge thereof than is shown in my said Letters Patent, for the reason that I am enabled thereby to much more readily solder the permanent or-tagger top on the can and there is not the same liability of the solder collecting on the studs or projections. Furthermore, by locating the peripheral groove in the flange of the cover nearer the lower edge thereof than is shown in my said Letters Patent I am enabled to produce a perfectly cylindrical cover, which I have found cannot be done where the peripheral groove is located near the upper edge of the cover; also, that by locating the peripheral groove near the lower edge of the flange I do not have to employ such deep vertical slots, which weaken the cover. Furthermore, in my Letters Patent above referred to in applying the cover so as to have the lateral extensions on the vertical slots engage the studs or projections, so as to prevent the cover from penetrating the tagger top during transportation, the studs have to be brought into alinement with the vertical slots, the cover pushed slightly down to bring the studs into alinement with the lateral extensions, and then the cover given a partial rotation. The same movements have to be made under my said Letters Patent when it is desired to disengage the studs or projections from the lateral extensions and cause the cutter to penetrate the tagger top. With my present invention I dispense with the lateral extensions to the vertical slots, whereby the cover can be much more readilyapplied, and prevent the cover from accidentally penetrating the tagger top during transportation by providing notches on the lower edge of the cover intermediate the vertical slots, which notches also prevent the cover from having a rotary movement.

A in the drawings represents the body of the can, which is preferably cylindrical in shapeand can be made in any desired size.

A considerable distance below the upper edge of the body of the can, on the outer surface thereof, studs or projections a are provided. The body of the can is also provided with a permanent thin or tagger top a.

rial.

13 represents an outer removable cover which is provided on its under side with a downwardly projecting knife or cutter O, which is preferably formed by stamping it out of the metal constituting the cover; but it may be constructed separately from the cover and secured to the same in any suitable manner. The cutter C may be of any suitable shape. The flange of the cover is provided with vertical slots D, which extend to and penetrate the peripheral groove E formed on the cover near the lower edge thereof. The slots may be open slotsthat is, cut out of the materialor they may be closed slotsthat is, stamped or pressed out of the mate- These vertical slots D are provided at intervals around the cover and are preferably three in number, so as to facilitate applying the cover and cutting out the tagger top, the peripheral groove engaging the studs and holding the cutter down to its work during the cutting-out operation. The advantages of constructing the studs or projections at a considerable distance below the upper edge of the body of the can and forming the peripheral groove near the lower edge of the flange of the cover and dispensing with the lateral extensions to the vertical slots have been fully set forth and need no further comments.

The notches F are preferably provided in the lower edge of the flange of the cover at points intermediate the vertical slots. The office of these notches is to receive the studs or projections a on the box or can and prevent a further descent of the cover, so that the cutter 0 is prevented from accidentally penetrating the tagger top during transportation and the cover from having a rotary movement, which latter function is important for the reason that if the cover was allowed to rotate the studs might be brought into alinement with the vertical slots and the cover thereby allowed to descend and the knife penetrate the tagger top and allow air to come in contact with the goods in the can. I do not wish, however, to limit my invention to the use of the notches F.

The upper edges of the vertical slots D terminate, preferably, at the upper edge of the peripheral groove, and the studs are so located with respect to the peripheral groove that when the cover is pressed fully down the studs will be in alinement with the peripheral groove, so that the cover can be readily revolved to cut the tagger top.

The operation in the use of the box or can is as follows: After the goods have been placed in the box and hermetically sealed the outer removable cover is placed 011 the can so that the notches F 011 the lower edge of the flange of the cover rest on the studs or projections a on the body of the can. The can is shipped in this condition. When it is desired to out out the tagger top, the cover is raised sufficiently to disengage the notches F from the projections a, and it is then revolved to bring the studs int-o alinement with the vertical slots D, and by pressing down on the cover the cutter will be caused to penetrate the tagger top, and the studs or projections to will then be in alinement with the peripheral groove E, whereupon by revolving the cover the tagger top will be cut out. Then the cover has made acomplete revolution and the studs or projections again come .in line with the vertical slots, the outer removable cover can be raised vertically and the cut-out top removed and the removable cover again turned in position on the can and locked in such position by the studs engaging the peripheral groove.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A box .or can comprising in its construction'a body portion proper provided 011 its outer surface a considerable distance below its upper edge with projections or studs, and also with a permanent tagger top, and a removable coverhaving a downwardly-extending flange, which is formed with a peripheral groove near its lower edge, and vertical slots or grooves which penetrate or intersect the peripheral groove, and a cutter on the under side of the cover, the peripheral groove be ing so arranged and located with respect to the cutter, that when the cutter has penetrated the tagger top, the studs orprojections will be in a position to enter the peripheral groove, substantially as described.

2. A box or can comprising in its construc tion a body portion proper provided on its outer surface a considerable distance below its upper edge with projections or studs and with a permanent tagger top, and a removable cover having a vertical flange which is formed with a peripheral groove near its lower edge, and vertical slots having straight unbroken sides, which slots penetrate or intersect the peripheral groove, and a cutter on the under side of the cover, substantially as described.

3. A box or can comprising in its construction a body portion proper provided on its outer surface with projections or studs, and also having a fixed tagger top, and a removable cover having a downwardly-extending flange, which is formed with a peripheral groove near its lower edge and vertical slots or grooves which penetrate or intersect the peripheral groove, and notches provided on the lower edge of the flange, and a cutter or cutters on the inside of the cover, substantially as described.

4:. A box or can comprising in its construction a cylindrical body portion provided on its outer surface with projections or studs located at a considerable distance below the upper edge thereof, and with a permanent tagger top, and a removable outer coverformed and a cutter on the under side of the cover,

with a vertical flange having a peripheral substantially as described. 10 groove near its lower edge and provided with vertical slots which extend from the lower edge of the flange through the peripheral groove to the upper edge thereof, the said cover also being provided with notches on its lower edge intermediate the Vertical slots,

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALEXANDER CAMERON, J R. Witnesses:

HENRY F. W. SOUTHERN, B. C. SHELL. 

